VRCC Calendar Ad

What oil are you using in your Valkyrie? ---- Survey only please

Started by mello dude, Sun 24, Aug 2025, 14:32:54

Previous topic - Next topic

mello dude

Dont wanna start a usual technical, why and how mines better than yours discussion on oils. But just interested and for curiousity of what guys are using. Its just to score it, nothing else.
If you want to add a product let me know. I'll add as we go, plz come back and click your selection.

Thanks all!  :cooldude:
* There's someone in my head, but it's not me.......
* Mr. Murphy was an optimist....
* There's a very fine line between Insanity and Genius.....
* My get up and go, must have got up and went.....

rug_burn

Mobil One 10-40 extended mileage, Walmart $25 for 5 qt...
...insert hip saying here..

Chrisj CMA


98valk

any Diesel oil that meets Ford specification WSS-M2C171-F1, which requires zinc and phosphorus levels above 1000ppm. many newer oils have less, even JASO requires less than 1000ppm.

engine was designed pre-'88 and first built in '87 requiring SE or SF oil.  SF-SL 1000 - 1400 zinc
SC-SE 1000 - 1200 zinc

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/what-zinc-limits-levels-for-sm-sj-sh-sg-sf-etc.73571/

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,65911.0.html
why only a heavy duty diesel oil should be used
« on: March 25, 2014, 07:32:47 AM »
   Reply with quoteQuote Modify messageModify Remove messageRemove
http://www.lngpublishing.com/LNGmagazine/index.cfm
this months issue
http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/e9f4b3fd#/e9f4b3fd/1

see article  Two-wheelers love oil too!

JASO spec'd motorcycle oil are basically the same specs as heavy-duty diesel oil standards.
JASO does not test oils, manufactures pay a fee to JASO and state their oil meets the specs.

see article, another grade for the heavy-duty upgrade?
1998 Std/Tourer, 2007 DR200SE, 1981 CB900C  10speed
1973 Duster 340 4-speed rare A/C, 2001 F250 4x4 7.3L, 6sp

"Our Constitution was made only for a Moral and Religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the goverment of any other."
John Adams 10/11/1798

mello dude

* There's someone in my head, but it's not me.......
* Mr. Murphy was an optimist....
* There's a very fine line between Insanity and Genius.....
* My get up and go, must have got up and went.....

Jess from VA

I put Amsoil bike 10/40 in my bikes once and it was the quietest they ever ran (by far).

But the cost is ridiculous, and I've had no trouble with other good synthetic (Mobile 1, which isn't cheap either, but not ridiculous. )

holly

   I have used a few different ones including auto and motorcycle oil. I have not noticed any big difference in any of them. I am currently using Castrol Power 1 10w40. my plan is to stick with it, or maybe use it in the 10w50 formula.

Ghostrdr


Disco

T4 almost all the time.  Mobil 1 a few times.  Purolator PB or PBL 14610 every time. 
2000 Bumblebee Tourer, 98 Yellow & Cream Tourer, 97 Rescue blower bike
22 CRF450RL, 19 BMW R1250RT
78 CB550K, 07 Helix
71 MT50 Trailhopper


VRCC 27,916                  IBA 44,783

mello dude

As mentioned before, I will add more as guys post up oils not on the list....and also after adding to the list, plz come back and click your
choice.

Kinda interesting as we go... 8)
* There's someone in my head, but it's not me.......
* Mr. Murphy was an optimist....
* There's a very fine line between Insanity and Genius.....
* My get up and go, must have got up and went.....

mello dude

Quote from: Disco on Mon 25, Aug 2025, 15:48:54
T4 almost all the time.  Mobil 1 a few times.  Purolator PB or PBL 14610 every time. 

Hi -- Is that Rotella T4 and what grade?

thxz
* There's someone in my head, but it's not me.......
* Mr. Murphy was an optimist....
* There's a very fine line between Insanity and Genius.....
* My get up and go, must have got up and went.....

h13man

Used Rotella T6 until formula change. Next was Valvoline 4T dino and it brokedown @ 3,000 mi. Mobil1 10w-40 with 7500 mi. change from here on out as the 5,000 mi. change was still very clear looking.

Mobil1 Extended range, isn't it oil for cars? Mobil1 for MC's is about $44 for 4 qts. not $28 bucks for 5 qts. like for our AWD Suzuki car with almost 180,000 mi. and still going strong. I use dino in the GMC as came to me almost 50,000 mi. and no history of oil changes etc. It was a commercial vehicle so I'm sure dino was used. Used T6 for many a year but Chubby didn't like it whatsoever. Noisier tranny noise and not as smooth shifting. Changed out within 100 mi.

Disco

Quote from: mello dude on Mon 25, Aug 2025, 20:36:52
Quote from: Disco on Mon 25, Aug 2025, 15:48:54
T4 almost all the time.  Mobil 1 a few times.  Purolator PB or PBL 14610 every time. 

Hi -- Is that Rotella T4 and what grade?

thxz

Yes, 15w-40.   :cooldude:

I change oil at 5,000 miles and service the final drive at 10,000 miles.
2000 Bumblebee Tourer, 98 Yellow & Cream Tourer, 97 Rescue blower bike
22 CRF450RL, 19 BMW R1250RT
78 CB550K, 07 Helix
71 MT50 Trailhopper


VRCC 27,916                  IBA 44,783

Draeger

If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your opinion of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment. ~ Marcus Aurelius

Nightflight99

2000 Honda Valkyrie Interstate
2001 Honda Valkyrie Standard
2010 Triumph Street Triple
2013 Suzuki DR650
2017 Triumph Rocket III Roadster
2016 KTM 690 Enduro R
2021 Triumph Rocket 3 GT

Lindsay6669


F6Dave

I'm surprised at the variety of motor oils we use. If you look at the shelves in Walmart or an auto parts store just a few brands dominate, so I didn't think we'd be using so many.

I used to use Mobil 1 15W-50 automotive in both Valkyries but recently switched to Rotella T4 15W-40 conventional oil. It was just out of curiosity as the difference in price per quart is only about a buck. Used oil analysis showed similar wear metal levels for both so I don't know if I'll switch back or not. I'm still using the Mobil 1 in my GL1800 (F6B).

cookiedough

someone mentioned rotella T6 5w-40 the formula components of the oil said changed so no longer using it.  How, when,  or what did they change since been using that ever since Amsoil got so expensive over a decade ago.

h13man

As I'm the only one here thats posted that has had an issue with post 17' T6 formula. Used it w/o issue in the 00' ZR7 and the 06' VT1100 for 6 yrs. A fellow HSN member had issue in his ST1300 also. Now the dino Rotella might work better but I already committed to using synthetic thus Mobil1 put everything back in order after a slight oil quest with Valvoline dino.  ;)

mello dude

Kinda interested in the T6 formula change thing... was that 5W-40 only? or 15W-40 too?
And when was it?


This survey is going really good! Very cool!  :cooldude:
Most listed as a zero its really a 1.....from someone that posted in the thread...
* There's someone in my head, but it's not me.......
* Mr. Murphy was an optimist....
* There's a very fine line between Insanity and Genius.....
* My get up and go, must have got up and went.....

Disco

Quote from: F6Dave on Sat 30, Aug 2025, 10:36:18
I'm surprised at the variety of motor oils we use. If you look at the shelves in Walmart or an auto parts store just a few brands dominate, so I didn't think we'd be using so many.

I used to use Mobil 1 15W-50 automotive in both Valkyries but recently switched to Rotella T4 15W-40 conventional oil. It was just out of curiosity as the difference in price per quart is only about a buck. Used oil analysis showed similar wear metal levels for both so I don't know if I'll switch back or not. I'm still using the Mobil 1 in my GL1800 (F6B).

T4 is semi-synthetic.  It's a blend of synthetic and conventional.   :cooldude:
2000 Bumblebee Tourer, 98 Yellow & Cream Tourer, 97 Rescue blower bike
22 CRF450RL, 19 BMW R1250RT
78 CB550K, 07 Helix
71 MT50 Trailhopper


VRCC 27,916                  IBA 44,783

h13man

Quote from: mello dude on Wed 03, Sep 2025, 11:13:36
Kinda interested in the T6 formula change thing... was that 5W-40 only? or 15W-40 too?
And when was it?


This survey is going really good! Very cool!  :cooldude:
Most listed as a zero its really a 1.....from someone that posted in the thread...

EPA changed the rules on all diesel oil's in 2017'. Ford raised quite stink about it.

98valk

Quote from: h13man on Thu 04, Sep 2025, 06:47:05
Quote from: mello dude on Wed 03, Sep 2025, 11:13:36
Kinda interested in the T6 formula change thing... was that 5W-40 only? or 15W-40 too?
And when was it?


This survey is going really good! Very cool!  :cooldude:
Most listed as a zero its really a 1.....from someone that posted in the thread...

EPA changed the rules on all diesel oil's in 2017'. Ford raised quite stink about it.

that's why I've been posting about that all of this time and why only use an oil that meets the Ford spec. it seems too many people have me blocked and/or ignore my posts. post the ford spec in this thread
1998 Std/Tourer, 2007 DR200SE, 1981 CB900C  10speed
1973 Duster 340 4-speed rare A/C, 2001 F250 4x4 7.3L, 6sp

"Our Constitution was made only for a Moral and Religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the goverment of any other."
John Adams 10/11/1798

RonA

Pretty sure that T4 is conventional, T5 is a con. syn. blend, and T6 is a full syn.



F6Dave

Quote from: RonA on Thu 04, Sep 2025, 16:25:42
Pretty sure that T4 is conventional, T5 is a con. syn. blend, and T6 is a full syn.



It was. I looked it up and in 2021 Shell changed the formula and now it's a blend.

F6Dave

As i mentioned earlier I recently switched from Mobil 1 15W-50 to Rotella T4 15W-40. I had the oil analyzed for both. Wear metals were the same, but they use different anti-wear packages. Mobil 1 has more moly and magnesium while Rotella has more boron and calcium. In my Valk it made no difference.


mello dude

I hate going here.... but on T6 .... what is the change?
Per survey, it doesnt seem to concern many of us.
* There's someone in my head, but it's not me.......
* Mr. Murphy was an optimist....
* There's a very fine line between Insanity and Genius.....
* My get up and go, must have got up and went.....

Joe333x

Quote from: mello dude on Sat 06, Sep 2025, 19:56:18
I hate going here.... but on T6 .... what is the change?
Per survey, it doesnt seem to concern many of us.

Yeah idk, I've been using T6 in my motorcycles for over 20 years now and this is the only site I have seen someone say something about a change to it that effects motorcycles? The bottle has a picture of a motorcycle on it and it still says JASO on the back so unless I see some type of concrete evidence that I shouldn't use it, I'll keep using it. It's in both of my bikes right now.

98valk

Quote from: Joe333x on Sun 07, Sep 2025, 11:31:18
Quote from: mello dude on Sat 06, Sep 2025, 19:56:18
I hate going here.... but on T6 .... what is the change?
Per survey, it doesnt seem to concern many of us.

Yeah idk, I've been using T6 in my motorcycles for over 20 years now and this is the only site I have seen someone say something about a change to it that effects motorcycles? The bottle has a picture of a motorcycle on it and it still says JASO on the back so unless I see some type of concrete evidence that I shouldn't use it, I'll keep using it. It's in both of my bikes right now.

T6 5w40 does not does meet the Ford spec. they fixed their website.
the T6 15w40 does meet the Ford spec and can be used.

https://www.shell.us/business/fuels-and-lubricants/lubricants-for-business/products/shell-rotella-heavy-duty-engine-oils-for-fleets/shell-rotella-t6-full-synthetic-heavy-duty-engine-oil.html
1998 Std/Tourer, 2007 DR200SE, 1981 CB900C  10speed
1973 Duster 340 4-speed rare A/C, 2001 F250 4x4 7.3L, 6sp

"Our Constitution was made only for a Moral and Religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the goverment of any other."
John Adams 10/11/1798

John97

Looks like I'm 50% of the riders using GN4 10w-40 and I use the Honda filter too. Worked at the dealership still have nice discount. Same thing for my Magna.

mello dude

Bumping this... want to get as many votes as possible...


Thanks all!  :cooldude:
* There's someone in my head, but it's not me.......
* Mr. Murphy was an optimist....
* There's a very fine line between Insanity and Genius.....
* My get up and go, must have got up and went.....

98valk

Quote from: John97 on Sun 07, Sep 2025, 23:39:49
Looks like I'm 50% of the riders using GN4 10w-40 and I use the Honda filter too. Worked at the dealership still have nice discount. Same thing for my Magna.

over the yrs in used oil analysis comparisons honda oil made by who knows who, never tested well. Why I always state the better oils are good for at least a 10k oil change.  todays oils are so much better than the oils specified in '88.
1998 Std/Tourer, 2007 DR200SE, 1981 CB900C  10speed
1973 Duster 340 4-speed rare A/C, 2001 F250 4x4 7.3L, 6sp

"Our Constitution was made only for a Moral and Religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the goverment of any other."
John Adams 10/11/1798

mello dude

51 votes is pretty good, but bumping one last time....

Survey turned out very good. Somewhat turned out like I expected with Rotella 5W/15W - 40 and
Moble 1 4T, and Amsoil the top 4.


Thanks to all that replied.  :cooldude:

:)
* There's someone in my head, but it's not me.......
* Mr. Murphy was an optimist....
* There's a very fine line between Insanity and Genius.....
* My get up and go, must have got up and went.....

Jersey mike

Saturday I changed the oil in the bike, been using Mobile 1 (full syn) for a long time and I used my last 4 quarts ffrom the case I had. When I went to the Auto Zone after to dump my oil, I see that they no longer stock Mobile 1 10/40 (full syn) in either the regular or high mileage but they do have in stock what they call Mobile 1 Racing 4T 10/40 full syn. I did buy 4 quarts of that to have something on hand.

I don't like shopping at our Walmart but after a quick search it seems Walmart does still carry the original M1 and High Mileage both full syn.


Anyone using the M1 10/40 Racing 4T?

HayHauler

Quote from: Jersey mike on Mon 20, Oct 2025, 07:19:52
Saturday I changed the oil in the bike, been using Mobile 1 (full syn) for a long time and I used my last 4 quarts ffrom the case I had. When I went to the Auto Zone after to dump my oil, I see that they no longer stock Mobile 1 10/40 (full syn) in either the regular or high mileage but they do have in stock what they call Mobile 1 Racing 4T 10/40 full syn. I did buy 4 quarts of that to have something on hand.

I don't like shopping at our Walmart but after a quick search it seems Walmart does still carry the original M1 and High Mileage both full syn.


Anyone using the M1 10/40 Racing 4T?

Be careful with that High Mileage blend.  I think that it has friction modifiers in it that will make our clutches slip.  Look at the circle on the back of the bottle and if the bottom of the circle is blank, you are good to go.  If not, they put the friction modifier info in the bottom part.

UPDATE:  I just looked at the High Mileage 10-40w and the bottom of the circle is empty, so that should be good to go.

https://www.amazon.com/Mobil-High-Mileage-10W-40-5QT/dp/B07GLGY2RY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3IYP7SI4YCVHB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2llnrveMQbhiXU-ubxLVBJdZ7TbXQkjWZbS-8XCpQVouMyBRZ_CC3lUvqfR-gf8u3-0-muysnKpq28XQVDhQghHAEH3Tp56pKJckNm81w4qa3m2qs6zt7eIR-O4ZqLXhv4lHsNjSM94K_Jgu4uf8uDjb1NrVJJ7QwX7Y9KegPdVnXERW3-Xo9rX0U_4aBZpwJGNejuCchcr6R4zpFIVMb5UjtVwy1Qf2r9zkrOzSXDOwCt7LdchDtx4f47TrUwqCEAukEXM74pH0OoHATaVzfuYyRrdoCQbui56BcvKTZdo.WL2VKN8swJkx4b_CtWz6jtkRFBg5mJEEUqc-gyN9vEc&dib_tag=se&keywords=high%2Bmileage%2Bmobil%2Bone%2Boil%2B10w-40&qid=1760965122&sprefix=high%2Bmileage%2Bmobil%2Bone%2Boil%2B10w-40%2Caps%2C239&sr=8-1&th=1


Just my $.01875.

Hay  8)
Jimmyt
VRCC# 28963

mello dude

Quote from: Jersey mike on Mon 20, Oct 2025, 07:19:52

Anyone using the M1 10/40 Racing 4T?


That has been my goto oil for motorcycles for street bikes for years, nice oil....The Valkyrie likes it fine.
We have 7 votes on it here. I hate Walmart, but it always has the best price for it.
* There's someone in my head, but it's not me.......
* Mr. Murphy was an optimist....
* There's a very fine line between Insanity and Genius.....
* My get up and go, must have got up and went.....

Jersey mike

Quote from: mello dude on Mon 20, Oct 2025, 13:50:50
Quote from: Jersey mike on Mon 20, Oct 2025, 07:19:52

Anyone using the M1 10/40 Racing 4T?


That has been my goto oil for motorcycles for street bikes for years, nice oil....The Valkyrie likes it fine.
We have 7 votes on it here. I hate Walmart, but it always has the best price for it.


How far do you go on oil changes. I usually do 5k with an OEM filter.

mello dude

Quote from: Jersey mike on Mon 20, Oct 2025, 14:54:02
Quote from: mello dude on Mon 20, Oct 2025, 13:50:50
Quote from: Jersey mike on Mon 20, Oct 2025, 07:19:52

Anyone using the M1 10/40 Racing 4T?


That has been my goto oil for motorcycles for street bikes for years, nice oil....The Valkyrie likes it fine.
We have 7 votes on it here. I hate Walmart, but it always has the best price for it.


How far do you go on oil changes. I usually do 5k with an OEM filter.

I usually go around 4K ish, sometimes it could be 3.5k depending on where in the season it is,  with Bosch filters, 3300 or 3323 I buy on Amazon....

Probably overzealous... but I havent met a motorcyclist guy that wasnt in some respects.
* There's someone in my head, but it's not me.......
* Mr. Murphy was an optimist....
* There's a very fine line between Insanity and Genius.....
* My get up and go, must have got up and went.....

mello dude

* There's someone in my head, but it's not me.......
* Mr. Murphy was an optimist....
* There's a very fine line between Insanity and Genius.....
* My get up and go, must have got up and went.....